Northern Fells Broadband - Frequently Asked Questions

What is superfast broadband?

Superfast Broadband is a communications technology that allows people to receive high speed information to their homes. It will work through a computer or a television and offers the ability to receive telephone calls. Speeds of service can vary but we are looking to access between 25mb and 100 mb for residents in the Northern Fells parishes.

Whatís up with what we have now?

At the moment, most homes in rural Cumbria can only get speeds of between 0.25 and 2 mb with a lucky few being able to access 5mb. These speeds are fine for basic tasks, such as email, but will not cope with multiple users or live video and TV feeds, and will not be able to cope with all the new services being developed.

How will high speed communications be delivered in Cumbria?

There are a number of ways in which high speed broadband can be delivered in a rural area, depending on the geography and location of houses; they include wireless, 4G, fibre optic cable (underground or possibly via electricity supply cables), and even satellite communications.

What will it cost?

At present we havenít any prices because no decisions have been made as to which supplier can meet the needs of our community. However an example from one supplier suggests a solution in the region of between £100 and £150 connection charge and then a monthly charge of approximately £25 - £30.

What about my telephone?

It is possible to use high speed broadband to make and receive telephone calls and there are a number of companies offering this service. It is also possible to maintain your current phone number when using these options. At this time, the most well known option is Skype.

What if I donít have a computer?

Even if you donít have a computer, high speed broadband will allow you to use a television to access the internet; you will be able to watch high definition TV, download programs from BBC I player, for instance, and access a host of other services currently being developed and trialled. These services may include home based medical consultations which are now being piloted in Scotland.

Northern Fells Broadband - Community Benefits

Ten Suggested Community Benefits

More realistic to work from home - set up web-based businesses - stay where you were brought up - attract businesses into the area

Children's Educational Software

Video-conferencing such as Skype

Farmers On-line DEFRA Reporting

Web-based backup services - all data can be stored remotely

Remote medical examination and diagnostic services

BBC iPlayer - HD video and audio on demand through a variety of home entertainment devices

Interactive gaming

Mobile phone reception

Interactive Television Based Services - No Need For a Computer

These are just some of the benefits we can envisage today. They will surely continue to expand with ever increasing pace.